Thanks for the responses. I will look into those options too. My question was a bit more theoretical as well. Where do you think the money is best spent? I've heard you can buy pretty accurate out of the box guns now for under $1k (such as the Tikka or Savage). That would leave a good $1.2k to be spent on glass.

From an overall platform perspective, is that option better than spending $1.4k on a rifle and limiting your glass to a $400 option such as the Vortex?

2k on the glass, then get a rem 700 when they go on sale for 400$ start from there. I realize this seams crazy but you want the best glass. Don't over look used glass!

If it were me I'd be looking long term with a build like this. I'd buy a Remington 700 for the platform. Reason being, they are proven accurate and have a ton of after market products for them. Once you shoot the barrel out there are countless precision firearm companies that will rebarrel and chamber your 700 action. Whereas savage actions don't have the same amount of aftermarket. Then I'd look into Horus Vision optics. IMO the best options and glass for the price. I had an old 700 LA that I had GAP rebarrel into a 338 RUM. Entire weapon before optics was $1400. The gun shoots better than me and can shoot further than I can find room for. Hope this helps.

you have lots of options but I like the one posted about the Rem700 5r.
The Tikka t3 tactical is an awesome rifle also.
You have a good idea of splitting your money in half. 1k on rifle, 1k on scope/rings
There are lots of good scopes in the 800-1000 range too
get a good single rail base and strong rings and youll be good.

I spent $1200 on a FN SPR A1 and 500 on a Vortex Viper scope and am very happy with that set up.

You have not expressed any thoughts regarding calibers. While a 308 might get to 1000 yards, do you expect to kill anything at that distance ? A 308 is also relatively lousy into the wind. Perhaps you should consider a 300 Win Mag or a 300 WSM. The WSM gets you the advantage of staying with a short action and burning a bit less powder.

Right now on Gunbroker you can get the Savage model 11 long range hunter in 300WSM for <$800 or you can get for a similar price the 6.5x284 Norma.

For $550 you can get the Vortex Viper HS 4x16x50 long range scope with an exposed elevation turret and MOA calibrated reticle. If you go up to $750 you can get the Viper PST 6x24x50 SFP with either MOA or MRAD reticle. Even with the more expensive scope you still have $400 of your budget left. That would get you brass, bullets, dies, powder etc (consumables). Later on, (not too much later with the 6.5x284) you can order a match barrel to your own specification.

I agree with Lloyd. If you want to be able to hunt that far away, a Magnum caliber would be a better choice than a .308. But for paper and steel @ 1000 the .308 is an excellent caliber to get into shooting long range.

For the money a Sendero 7Mag and a Zeiss 6.5-20x50 (usually on sale for around $799), would be a good setup.

Then later on (or immediately) you could spend about $150 and have the barrel re-chambered to 7mmSTW, and really be able to reach out and touch something. That would be a real nice shooter for under $1,500...And you would really be able to reach out there and hunt at 1000+ if you had some nice handloads with some Berger 180 VLD's.

If you went with a Sendero in 7mm RemMag, the Berger 168 VLD's would be and excellent choice.

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"I'm just a peckerwood who lives in the hills with too many guns..." - Bob Lee Swagger